Although I have always had trans and nonbinary people in my shows, it became apparent to me that their presence was often overshadowed by cis gay men or cis gay men in drag. I wanted to create a space to celebrate trans bodies. This was an opportunity for their presence to be undeniable and reinforce that trans is beautiful.

The runway show featured 34 models including Carmen Carrera, a former star on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pose stars Dominique Jackson and Angelica Ross, Transparent actress Trace Lysette, and Gigi Gorgeous, "YouTuber" and social media influencer.

A year after graduating from CalArts, Morante opened his Hollywood design studio and showroom. From playful to glamorous, his one-of-a-kind designs can be seen on the red carpet, worldwide tours, television and in music videos.

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24700 is CalArts' online space dedicated to sharing news and work of the larger CalArts community from around the world. The blog captures stories of the exploration of new forms and expressions in the arts by our students, faculty, staff and alumni.